He received $60,000 (£36,500) for his role in Leonardo DiCaprio’s Wolf of Wall Street
The 2013 release of Martin Scorsese’s blockbuster The Wolf of Wall Street led to immediate success.
The biopic follows Wall Street stockbroker Jordan Belfort as he cheats his way to a massive cash flow, leaving a trail of cocaine, quaaludes, and ladies of the night in his wake.
Leonardo DiCaprio played the lead role, and he was joined by an impressive ensemble that included Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey, Jonah Hill, and Jon Bernthal.
Jonah Hill revealed in January 2014, shortly after the film’s release, that he was paid $60,000 (£36k) for his role in The Wolf of Wall Street. This is a ridiculously low fee for even a minor supporting role.
Meanwhile, Hill’s co-star, Leonardo DiCaprio, who also produced the film, earned around $10 million (£6.2 million). So, what made Jonah content with such a small payoff?
Hill revealed that he was paid $60,000 during an appearance on The Howard Stern Show in 2014, “before commissions and taxes.” He continued, “They gave me the lowest amount of money possible.”
Hill explained that he accepted the low pay because he wanted to work with legendary director Martin Scorsese.
“That was their offer, and I said, ‘I will sign the paper tonight. Fax them the papers tonight. I want to sign them tonight before they change their mind. I want to sign them before I go to sleep tonight so they can’t legally change their mind.”
“I would sell my house and give him all my money to work for him,” he added boldly.
“This isn’t what you make money for. You do 22 Jump Street or you do other things, and you can pay your rent. I would have done anything in the world. I would do it again in a second. This isn’t about money. You should do things that you care about.”
Hill revealed on Saturday Night Live how he got in touch with Scorsese to discuss the role.
“I had got the opportunity to meet with Leo first and give him an impassioned argument as to why I had to play the part, and then he was supportive, luckily.”
“Then I went to New York, and I said, ‘Well, can I show Scorsese what I want to do instead of just begging him to do the part.’ Then I got to read with him, and I was lucky enough to get the part.”
Hill also revealed in an interview with Yahoo Movies around the time of the film’s premiere that he despised his character in the film, Donnie.
“They say you’re not supposed to judge the character at all, and I tried my hardest, but I couldn’t really find that much I really liked about Donnie.
I just didn’t like the way that Donnie treated people. That was the thing I had the hardest time with.”
